Giedo van der Garde joins Racing Team Nederland

Dutchman Giedo van der Garde will be making his return to sportscar racing this year when he joins Racing Team Nederland for the FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season.

Announced this morning via social media, it is now known that Giedo van der Garde is one of three drivers to be named as part of the Racing Team Nederland squad for the 2018/2019 WEC Super Season – the team’s first entry into the series. The former Formula One driver made his debut in endurance racing in 2016, competing in both the European Le Mans Series with G-Drive Racing and several rounds of the WEC with G-Drive and Extreme Speed Motorsports. Though his last outing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ended in retirement, the Dutchman did go on to secure the 2016 ELMS championship with G-Drive Racing.

In the Racing Team Nederland press release, van der Garde states: “I am very happy that Racing Team Netherlands and Frits give me this great opportunity. The ambitions of the team appeal to me enormously and I would like to be part of it.
“The World Championship is super competitive and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most beautiful races in the world. I find it very special to be at the start again.”

“I am very pleased that Giedo will drive for us.” Says fellow Racing Team Nederland driver Frits van Eerd. “He is fast, experienced and very motivated.
“Our debut in the World Championship is a fantastic challenge, and I think it’s great that we are now entering into a rider of this calibre.”

The Dutch team have entered the LMP2 category with a Dallara P217 chassis and will be revealing more details of their entry soon.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest will confirm the full entry list for the WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans at their press conference in early February. The WEC season itself begins with pre-season testing at Circuit Paul Ricard in April.